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Recipe Friday: A Slice of HappyRecipe Friday: A Slice of Happy
Catersource
July 7, 2023
3 Min Read
Here’s fresh news that will make you smile: A new study has found that eating a slice of watermelon can improve your mood.
According to a recent survey of 1,000 people who recently bought watermelon:
82% reported eating watermelon boosts their mood.
100% say the very thought of watermelon makes them feel happy with 70% saying “very happy” and 30% feeling “somewhat happy.”
The vast majority (81%) consider watermelon a “comfort food.”
When asked to name a specific emotion eating watermelon brings, responses include:
“Happy” (39%)
“Fantastic” (13%)
“Refreshed” (12%)
“Relaxed” (5%)
“Satisfied” (4%)
“This study proves what watermelon growers have long known: Eating watermelon does indeed bring pure joy,” said Blake Mouzin of Mouzin Brothers Farms in Vincennes, Indiana. “And how can it not make you happy? It’s there to enjoy with friends and family around campfires, tossed into a summer salad or juiced or scooped up to cool you down on a hot summer day. Watermelons always seem to be around during our happiest moments.”
Now that peak watermelon season is upon us (and the fact that July is National Watermelon Month), get ready to carve more happiness into your summer plans with the following recipes from the National Watermelon Promotion Board.
For Snacking: Easy Watermelon Feta Salad Cup
Ingredients
1 ea. whole watermelon
¾ cup diced cucumber
¾ cup feta cheese, divided
1 T red wine vinegar
2 tsp olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Balsamic glaze, optional
Method
Cut watermelon into 1 ½ - 2 inch circles using a cookie cutter. Use a melon baller to scoop out the inside of the watermelon.
Diced leftover watermelon. You need about ¾ a cup.
Toss diced watermelon, cucumber and ½ cup of feta cheese with red wine vinegar and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Fill cups with watermelon and cucumber mixture. Sprinkle with remaining feta cheese.
Drizzle with balsamic glaze, if using. Serve and enjoy!
For Lounging: Watermelon Rosemary Lemonade Soda Mocktail
Add your favorite spirit to make your mocktail a cocktail!
Ingredients
4 cups watermelon juice
2 ½ ea. lemons, juiced
¼ cup sugar
5 ea. sprigs rosemary, divided (3 coarsely chopped, 2 for garnish)
Club soda
Method
Remove the leaves from 3 rosemary sprigs and chop coarsely.
Add watermelon, lemon juice, rosemary, and sugar to a blender and puree for about 30 seconds.
Once blended, strain the mixture to remove all rosemary and watermelon pulp.
Pour a half cup of your cocktail mixture over ice, top with club soda, and add a sprig of the extra rosemary for garnish.
For Grilling: Watermelon Rind Sweet Relish
Relish is perfect on hot dogs during a summer day. The only thing to top that … is adding watermelon to your relish.
Ingredients
2 cups watermelon rind, dark-green skin removed and white part cut in ⅓-inch dice
1 cup watermelon juice
2 T plus 2 tsp salt, divided
2 ½ cups water plus ¾ cup water, divided
1 cup sugar
2 T lemon zest, finely grated
2 T lemon juice
Pinch cinnamon and cloves
2 cups diced watermelon
Method
Mix rind with 2 1/2 cups water and 2 tablespoons salt. Let stand covered at room temperature overnight. Drain and rinse well.
In medium saucepan, combine sugar with 3/4 cup water, 2 teaspoons salt, the lemon zest and juice, cinnamon and cloves.
Bring to a boil over medium heat, add the rind and cook gently for about 40 minutes or until the rind is translucent and tender (do not boil hard as mixture could caramelize). When done, remove from heat and cool.
Lastly, mix in the diced watermelon.
The watermelon relish will keep refrigerated for 4 days. Serving suggestion: mince the final relish for a salad topping or sandwich spread.
For Fun: Unicorn Watermelon Milkshake
For those days when you just need more. This milkshake elevates our favorite watermelon milkshake to the extraordinary!
Ingredients
1 ½ cups chopped, seedless watermelon
4 ea. large scoops vanilla ice cream*4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
3 T Watermelon Jolly Rancher gelatin granules (Jello)
3 tsp graham cracker crumbs
Candy of choice, for decoration
Method
In a blender, add the watermelon first, then ice cream, cream cheese and gelatin granules.
Pour into glasses. Add candy and toppings as desired.
